Shipping case



Nov. 2, 1937. l.. G. CLARK er A1.

.SHIPPING CASE Filed Aug. 10, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q r ,A m S lflimmlnHHHHIMHHNMHMHHHU Y a( m @Y Y exi A C-no GUM ,Af aeg: i l@ um om; mm

- New. 2, 1937. L. G. CLARK ET AL 2,097,433

SHIPPING cAsE Filed Aug. 10, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 i J7 1 2o zo I9 l 5,l l0, 1/` '4 :D k 3' 1/2 e Nov. 2, 1937. L. G. CLARK ET Al.

SHIPPING CASE Filed Aug. m, 193e s sheets-sheet s ya? f3 im@ GCank Tl YODCI l D l simple and practical manner and withthe use Patented' Nor.' 2,1937 v- UNITED STATE j Rapids, Mich., assignors to Ameri Board Company,Grand Rapids, Mich., a co1' poration of Michigan can Box ApplicationAugust 10,I 1936', .Serial No. A95,1

7 claims.

This invention relates to a shippingl case which is designed to be madefrom paper board or ber- `board. Shipping cases of our invention are toreceive and carry relatively heavy merchandise, such as bottled goodsand, therefore, require particularly that they be cfa strong and durablecharacter and fully capable of withstanding the strains to whichsubjected in use. Our invention has for one of its objects the provisionof a very novel construction of bottom for the case which is of greatstrength and which can be produced very readily and economically.

.In conjunction with shipping cases of .this character, the bottomstructure which we have devised is of utility irrespective of theparticular top closure which is used.` With certain types of bottledgoods, such as beer, it is very desirable that the light be excluded,and our invention has for another object and purpose the provision of anovel character of top closure and end structure whereby the ends of thecase are strengthened and the necessary hand holes for carrying the caseare covered to exclude light, yet such hand holes maybe used with subelstantially as great ease as though not thus covered.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel structure ofshipping case having bothV the bottom closure and end structureadvantages stated, made from a single piece of paper or. yfiberboard,which can be shipped in a flat condition and set up at its destinationina very of a minimum of fastening staples and of Astapling machinery.Further, the amount of waste in conjunction with the paper or flberboardstock from which the blanks are cut is reduced to a minimum; and becauseof the at character of the blank, all in one continuous piece, fromwhich each shipping case is made, there results a desirable facility inprinting advertising data or the like upon selected outer sides of thecase.

These and many other advantages not at this time specically stated willappear upon an understanding of the invention from the following ydescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich, Fig. 1 is a planv of the shipping case blank from which thecompleted case is made.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the shipping 'case of ourinvention, substantially on the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section sub..l stantially on the planeof line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is av transverse vertical section substantially on the plane ofline 4--4 oi Fig. 2, and

Fig. is a perspective view looking into the vshipping case after thesame has been cut transversely, substantially on theplane of line 4-4 ofFig. 2.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different gures ofthe drawings, and the sections taken are in the directions indicated bythe arrows.

The shipping case which, preferably, is made from paper or berboard isproduced initially in a flat blank, shown in Fig, 1, longitudinally ofwhich and at Aits central portion, are the side I, end 2, opposite side3 and opposite end 4 in longitudinal alinement. At the free end of theside I there is a flapy5 and the blank'is creased trans,- versely asindicated by parallel lines 6 the full width of the shipping case blank.Similarly between the side I and end 2 are like creases 1; between theend 2 and the side 3, creases 8; and between the side 3 and the end 4,creases 9.

When the blank is folded about the creases 6, 1,

8 and 9, the sides I and 3 and the ends 2 and 4 are disposed parallel toeach other and the flap 5 may be bent within the outer edge portion ofthe end 4 and stapled thereto.

Alongside the bottom edges of the sides and ends I, 2, 3 and 4 are thebottom members of the shipping case. The section I0 extendsfrom thelower edge of the side I, section II from the lower edge of the end 2,I2 from the lower edge of the side 3 and I3 from the lower edge of theend 4.- A notch I5 'is cut in thev blank to define one' end of the ap 5previously described and also a ap I4 which extends from the outer endof the section I0, the same creasing 6 being utilized for easy foldingof the flap I4 as are used with the flap 5. The blank is creasedlongitudinally as at I6 to provide the division between the sides andends of theA box and the bottom members. The blank is cut on the linesI1 and I9 to provide aps I8 at'the ends of the sections III and I2,similar in all respects to the flap I4, and in both of the sections IIand I3, the material extends beyond the edges of the sections I0 and I2in the form shown, providing tongues 20 which may be folded about thecreases 1, 8, 9 and 9a. The section I3 at the end edge ofthe blank iscut on the lines Ila and I9a to make the part I3 symmetrical andidentical in form with the part II.

When the case is set up the bottom sections I0 and I2 are turnedinwardly from the lower edges pf the opposite sides I and 3, the freeouter edges PATENT) ori-lcs of the bottom sections I0 and I2 comingtogether as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The parts Il and I3 are likewiseturned inwardly from the lower edges of the ends 2 and 4 lying over thebottom sections I0 and |2. The various flaps I4 and I8 at the ends ofthe bottom sections I 0 and I2 are turned upwardly at the outer sides ofthe ends 2 and 4 and arestapled thereto. The tongues 20 will be disposedat the inner sides of the sides I and 3 at the middle portions thereofand are turned upwardly, as best shown in Fig. 5 and, may be stapled tothe adjacent sides I and 3. It is not absolutely necessary that thesetongues be stapled but in many cases it is desirable and the structurelends itself perfectly to such stapling. I

It is evident from the foregoing description that a very strongreinforced bottom structure is provided. There is not only a doublethickness of material but in a zone midway between the ends of the casethe connection of the tongues 28 to the sides provides an exceedinglystrong reinforcement which resists any tendency of the bottom to bulgeor give, not only from the weight of the contents within the case, butdue to any sudden lifting of the case which puts an addi.

tional strain upon the bottom.

'I'he upper and closure structure for the shipping case lies in theblank at the opposite side of the sides and ends I, 2, 3 and 4,longitudinal creases 2| defining the folding lines. A top closuresection 22 joins with the upper edge of the side |.\-A section 23, to befolded downwardly within the end 2, joins with the upper edge thereof. Asecond top closure section 24 is joined at the upper edge of the side 3and aysecond downwardly and inwardly foldingr-member 25 joins with theupper edge of the end 4, all having the equivalent of a hingedconnection to said respective sides and ends on the creased lines 2|.'Ihe top closure section 22 has a flap 26 in alinement with and in thesame plane with the flap 5 and foldable about the creases 6, and withanotch 21 at the outer edge cut inwardly between the creased lines 6,thereby providing a tongue 28 which is substantially square incross-section. The tongue 28 is foldable at right-angles to the plane offlap 26 about creases; 29 which extend the full length of the blank. Thecreases 29 divide the top section 22 from a projecting flange 30. At theinner end of the section 22 a like flap 26, notch 2l and tongue 28 aremade by cutting the part 23 on the lines 3| and 32. Similarly the othertop section 24 has endflaps 26 with tongues 28 provided by notches 21,there being a flange 33 projecting from the top section 24 similar tothe flange 30; and the members 23 and 25 are cut on the lines 3| and 32and 3| a and 32a as shown to provide the structure described.

The ends 2 and 4 of the shipping case each have a longitudinal slot 34with closed ends cut therethrough for the entrance of the hands inlifting and carrying the case. Directly above each slot 34 is a verticalsl'ot 35 with closed ends across which the creases 2| pass'midwaybetween the ends of said slots 35. Above each of the slots 35 in each ofthe members 23 and 25 a hand hole closing flap 36 is cut, the cut beingat three sides, the remaining side being integral with the fiber orpaper board material and substantially at the creases 29. f

With a structure as described, the flaps 26 are turned inwardly atright-angles along the creased lines 6, l, 8 and 9, the tongues 2B arethen turned inwardly at right-angles to the flaps 26, after which theflanges 30 and 33 are bent inwardly at right-angles to the top sections22 and 24, the ends of said flanges and the tongues 28 being stapledtogether. The parts 23 and 25 are turned inwardly about the creasedlines 2| so as to lie flat against the inner sides of the ends 2 and 4,as shown in Fig. 3. In such position the upper free edge portions of theclosures 36 cover the openings 34. The cover sections may be turned toclosed position with the ends of the flanges 30 and 33, to which areconnected the tongues 28, received within the open upper ends of theslots 35. That is, when the parts 23 and 25 are turned to the positionillustrated in Fig. 3. the slotted portions at 35 are in effect doubledabout the mid points of the slots, thereby providing at the upper edgeof each end of the box an open slot to receive the flanges of the coversections. It is evident, as illustrated in Fig. 3, that the hand holeopenings 34, covered by the parts 36 have any light which wouldotherwise pass therethrough excluded, but that the flaps 36, will turnreadily inward to permit entrance of the fingers in handling theshipping case.

'Ihe top structuredescribed is very practical and satisfactory in use.'I'he top of the case is strongly reinforced, the ends of the casingsare reinforced, light is excluded and the entire case, including thebottom structure previously described, is of a very strong character.'I'he blanks for the boxes occupy little space in transportation. Thereis comparatively little stapling to b e done to set up the case when itreaches its destination. The flap 5 is stapled to the end 4, the flapsI4 and I8 are stapled to'the ends 2 and 4, if desired the tongues 2U arestapled to the sides I Aand 3 and the tongues 28 are stapled to the endsof the flanges 310 and 33. One staple only is required for each of thetongues 28, two staples foreach of the aps I4 and`|8 and preferably vefor connecting the flap 5 to the end 4, though four staples may be usedvery satisfactorily for the flap 5. Sixteen staples therefore are allthat are required for complete fastening the various parts together.This reduces materially thenumber of staples which has previously beenrequired in shipping cases designed to serve similar purposes.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be consideredcomprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

We claim:

1. A shipping case having vertical sides and ends connected together atthe corners of said case, bottom sections hinged to the lower edges ofsaid sides and extending inwardly toward each other and meeting atsubstantially the longitudinal central plane of the case, auxiliarysections hinged to the lower edges of said ends and extending inwardlytherefrom over said bottom sections and meeting substantially at thecentral transverse plane of the case, each of said auxiliary sections ateach side thereof adjacent its free edge having an integral tonguehinged thereto adapted to be turned upwardly at the inner sides of thesides of the case, as specified.

2. A shipping case having vertical sides and ends connected together,bottom sections hinged to the lower edges of said sides extendinghorizontally inward toward each other and meeting at their freelongitudinal edges, m'eans for securing said bottom sections to the endsof the case, auxiliary sections hinged to the lower edges of said endsand extending inwardly toward each other and substantially meeting attheir free end CFI edges, and means fox` securing said auxiliary bottomsections to the sides of the case.

3. A shipping case having vertical sides and ends, and a horizontalbottom, and sections hingedly connected to the upper edges of the endsof said case and extending downwardly at the inner sides of said ends,each of said ends having an opening for hand insertion therethrough, andeach of said sections including an integral flap in thebody of thesection severed from said section at its upper and vertical edges andhinged to the section at its lower edge, said aps being adapted to coverthe adjacent openings in the ends of the case.

4. A blank of paper or brebeard creased longitudinally and transverselyto deilne two sides and two ends for the case lying in alinementlongitudinally of the blank with bottom sections extending from thelower edges of said sides and auxiliary sections extending from thelower sections of said ends, said blank being cut to provide a ap ateach end of one of said bottom sections and at one end of the otherbottom section, said aps being cut from the material of said auxiliaysections, and an additional flap at the opposite end of saidlast-mentioned bottom section and, at the same end of the adjacent sideof the case, whereby said blank may be folded to provide vertical sidesand ends, the last-mentioned ap being secured to one of said ends,

said bottom sections turned inwardly toward each other and the iiaps atthe ends thereof secured to the ends of the case and the auxiliarysections turned inwardly toward each other to lie along- A side of thebottom sections.

5. A shipping case having parallel spaced-apart vertical sides andparallel spaced-apart vertical ends connected together at verticalcorners of the case, bottom `sections having aps at each end thereofhinged one at the lower edge of each side of the case to be turned inhorizontallyand with the flaps turned upwardly and connected to thelower parts of the ends of the case, auxiliary reinforcing sections forthe bottom hingedly connected to the lower edges of the ends and turnedinwardly to lie adjacent the bottom sections, and means at the ends ofsaid reinforcing sections for connecting the same to the shipping caseat points near the transverse middle plane of said case. 1

`6,'A shipping case comprising, vertical sides and endsconnectedtogether at the corners thereof, bottom sections of greaterlength than the sides hinged to thelower edges of said sides andextending inwardly toward each other, the end portions of said bottomsections providing ilaps turned upwardly at their ends and connected tothe lower portions of the ends of the case, and inwardly extendingauxiliary sections hinged at the lower edges of said ends extendinginwardly therefrom over said bottom sections, the free edges of saidbottom sections meeting substantially at the central longitudinal planeof the case, and the free edges of said auxiliary sections meetingsubstantially at the central transverse plane of the case, additionalsections hingedly connected with the upper edges of said ends and turneddownwardly at the inner sides of the ends, each of said ends having anopening therethrough covered by the last-mentioned sections, saidlast-mentioned sections having a flap cut therefrom at three edges andhinged at its lower edge whereby the same may be moved inwardly, as andfor the purposes described.

'7. A shipping case having vertical, spacedapart sides and endsconnected together at their corners, bottom sections hinged to the loweredges of said sides extendinginwardly toward each other and meeting attheir free edges, ilaps at the ends of said bottom sections hingedthereto and turned upwardly to lie against the lower portions of saidends, means securing said flaps to the ends, auxiliary sections hingedto the lower edges of said ends and turned inwardly and lying over thebottom sections and substantially meeting at their free end edges, asspeciiied, each of said auxiliary sections at each side thereof andadjacent its free end edge portion having an integral tongue hingedthereto and turned upwardly to lie againstV the inner side of each sideof the case, and means securing said tongues to said Asides of the case.

LLOYD G. CLARK. MERE-UAL A. GROGEL.

